3 month old wants to be on feet constantly

[SpringTulips22]

This is a weird one but I'm hoping someone can advise because I'm at my wit's end, and my back and arms can't take much more.

My 3 month old baby seems to want to constantly be on her feet/putting pressure/weight on her feet.

There are times when the only way to calm her down is to hold her up by the underarms on her feet and let her stamp on the floor/objects/my belly/anything really! She puts one foot in front of the other and "walks". I try to not let her take too much weight on her legs. If I sit her on my knee she immediately puts her feet on the chair and starts trying to push herself up and crying until I hold her up.

My issues with this are:

1. It is physically exhausting and my back is aching. I can't do much else whilst she's awake.
2. I don't believe it is good for her for a couple of reasons. The health visitor told me she shouldn't take too much weight on her legs as the bones are soft and to avoid bow-legs. Also, psycholigically, I fear she won't have the motivation to get herself up onto her feet if we have done it for her. Obviously the natural progression should be rolling, sitting up, crawling, and then pushing herself up onto her feet before walking.

Some more context:

• we do plenty of tummy time and although she hated it at the start she is getting better but inevitably gets very frustrated and starts "shouting"/crying. She does do the beginning of creeping/crawling motions but doesn't seem to be persistent at it and seems to start shouting before she makes much progress.
• She has only just started to roll, but not consistently.
• We put her on her back on the mat and let her kick like crazy at a mobile several times per day.
• We do have a doorframe bouncer/jumper but she is too young/small for it and the midwife told us they are not recommended for posture. Nevertheless, I have put her in it on 3 occasions for a couple of minutes at a time and she has LOVED it, but then of course I've felt guilty and worried.
• She is a big strong baby (she was more than 2 weeks late) and her leg muscles are strong and her legs have always been really active (both in the womb and out!). Her neck strength is very good and she has been holding her head up for a long time.

Does anyone have similar experience and if so, how did you manage?

And does anyone have a theory for this behaviour? I thought it could be linked to experience in the womb as for the last 2 months of pregnancy she had her legs in the same position and the soles of her feet were constantly kicking me in that spot, so perhaps it is somehow comforting to her?

I'm desperate to find a solution for this apparent need to be on her legs which 1) won't do her any physical damage and 2) won't be too physically exhausting for me.

Thanks a lot!

Hello, our lo is 5 month and has been this way for the last couple, I’m sorry I don’t have any advice as such, we have just been rolling with it as the older and stronger she gets the more she resists if you don’t, so if she’s on her back or sitting, she can now pull herself into a crab like position and start trying to push up off her feet. She loves been supported to stand, I’m sorry to say its just becoming more demanding the older she is getting - as she is now more aware of exactly what she wants, we have the door bouncer and a jumper which we bought in the hope of saving our body and sanity - but she just wants human contact for it. Will only tolerate them for 5/10 mins max.
I have been reading about this myself , our lo is what you would class as “High needs” not for 1 min saying you lo is, but have you noticed anything else in regards to their behaviour/temperament? also, deep pressure can be comforting for some babies so baby massage is a good one, to try and replicate, or rolling a sensory ball on their back/ legs. Cross body hugs also- our lo does enjoy these but it’s more of a distraction or alternative, rather than it stopping her wanting in her feet. I’ve also had her forward facing in the carrier since 4.5 months and this helps take the weight off it she “stands” on something like the kitchen counter, sorry not sure if that’s any help but your not alone and I feel your pain!

This was my baby. Always wanting to be on her feet. She was confidently pulling herself to stand at 5 months, climbing her pikler and cruising by 6 months. Single steps at 8 months. Walked at 8.5 months. She’s now 9 months and running. I’m a little bit in awe of her actually. 😂 Prepare for lots of head bumps. My daughter has had a bruise on her temple constantly but is so much better at break her fall these days.